Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-11-27
OLD AGE IN
some Interesting spsculations In Natural
History.

must certainly benefit from the great,
care generally bestowed upon them, an
from the increased efforts made to unde,
stand and supply their wants. The al
clients were inclined to attribute leaghths
days to such beasts or birds as they spe'
ially yenerated; but fabulous as many
their assumptions doubtless were, they "
seem TO have been founded upon a tru
recognition Of the classes or types {
animals which often attain to q great age
Ravens parrots, and among fishes III
carp, have in modern times zone far Z
Justify the former belief in their longevity
There is at the present time in the Zoolog
ical Garden Of Philadelphia a eoekatO
known to be above eighty-iye years old
the bird being still sprightly and thrivin
very garrulous and very cross" Unit
two years ago the Oldest inhabitant of on
collection was q black Yassa parrot from
Madagascar. who died after a residence o
6fty-fOur years in the Regents Park gar
dens. This was an adult bird when re
ceiyed there, but its sge at that tim
was unknown. Another parrot die,
last year in Paris at the reputed age of 10,
years; and since il was handed down b,
will to several successive owners, its Ion
gevity may be accepted as a act fully es
tablished. In France ravens have heel
known to live more than a hundred years
and there is one well-authenticated in
stance of an octogenarian pelican. Gees,
are naturally a long-lived family, anC
there are several records OF birds attainin,
to sixty or seventy years. A sky-lark j
known to have lived t%wenty-four years il
a cage; and the death of a ring-dove wa
lately chronicled which had lived twenty
six years in confinement.
Carp are commonly regarded as tn.
patriarchs of fresh-water fish, though Their
is no actual proof that they outlive tn
members of some other species. Last yea
the famous lake on the Duke of New
castles estate at Clumber, which had no
been emptied for 200 years, was drained of
when thousands of pike were found, som
of which from their enormous size wer
probably Of unusual age; but in he all
sence of means and Identification it is i'm
possible to speak positively or this point
The extreme tameness and docility Of car
led me to the fashion OF keeping them q
pets, in which condition particular indi
viduals came under closer scrutiny and tn
records Of very aged fsh-trom one to tw,
hundred years old-are numerous. On
taken in Germany a year ago had 3 rim
through its lower Jaw. on which it was II
corded that the bearer was placed in q par
ticular water IN l6lS. This appears hardl,
credible, but there is little doubt tina
many carp have lived for upwards of
hundred years.
A notice lately appeared of the death o
a brown wGter.spaniel al the age Oftwenty
eight years. she had belonged to the sam,
owner from a puppy, and died literally Q
sheer old age" A few months before
cat died at the age of twenty-five years an,
two months. These are very unusua
ages, though il is probable that som
individuals have lived still longer
HeTbivorous animals are general,
thought to outlive caruivorous ones
and of the former class those dedicated
to labor appear to furnish the largest mum
Der OF instances OF longevity. Two year
ago a donkey died at Cromarty that wa
known TO be at least 100 years old. l
could he traced back TO the year l7S9
when, at an unknown age, il came int,
the hands Of the then Ross of Cromarty
and it lived in the same family, hale an,
hearty, - until u kick from 4 horse sndel
its career. No horse Is known to have at
tanned to anything like such an age =
this, but a few have lived to ages varyin.
from forty to fifty years. \ famous OIL,
barge horse died at Washington in his six
a--...,g -.,- I'D Nha.1g.-N - H.,
in New York WIS, until quite recently
doing steady work there at thirty.eigh
years OF 2 \ few months ago. also.
mule forty-siN years old died at Philaiel
phia.
Obviously there can he but few reliahl
data Tor determining the average ages o
Wild au;mals, and our nearest a~pprcXima
tiOns must be founded upon the Obserya
tiOus Of similar creatures in a state OF cap
tlvity. Some of the reptiles undOubtedl,
live very long. Gilbert White, who ba,
personal knowledge OF q tortoise thirt,
years old, records the tradition of anOthe
supposed 10 be q hundred. Our knowl
edge Of the duration of certain forms q
insect life is very inadequate, and ii was
genuine surprise TO most of Us 10 hear tina
Sir John Lubbock had been on friendl,
terms with = queen ant for fourteen
years.
OF all aged animals the horse and th
dog appeal most nearly to the human
s~ympathieS. Il is not merely that the.
have been our faithful servants AM
friends, but there Is a gravity, and almoS
a dignity, in their bearing which is yer.
touching. Many agencies are now a
work Tor teaching the policy As well as th
, duty OF Kindness to animals, and of theS
the sight Of an old servitor Loyalty be
slowed in paddock or kennel IS not III
least instructive. Nor need a charge Q
this kind be without profit. The care Q
our fnur-fOoted friends in their deClinir.
years may furnish many valuable hints 70
the treatment OF their still seTyiceable fel
lows.